A Las Vegas NBA team is one of the most likely scenarios if NBA expansion takes place. Why do we need the dazzling lights of Sin City to host the next franchise?
Las Vegas NBA Team
The NBA currently has 30 teams and it’s only a matter of time until the league expands. Here are 10 reasons why we need a Las Vegas NBA team in the league.
10. Major League Sports in Las Vegas
The Oakland Raiders relocated to Las Vegas in 2022, the Aces won their first WNBA championship in 2022 and the Golden Knights, who were only founded in 2017, won their first Stanley Cup in 2023.
Las Vegas didn’t have a major league sports team until 2017 but the sports scene in the city has exploded. There’s a possible Las Vegas MLS team on the horizon, and so too a Major League Baseball team in Vegas. The NBA would be made to miss out.
9. NBA Summer League
Las Vegas first started hosting the NBA Summer League in 2004 and the tournament is the perfect mix between preseason training camp and competitive games. The Summer League is the perfect stepping stone to transform rookies into superstars and in the same way, has laid the platform for a Las Vegas transition into an NBA city.
8. Media Exposure
Las Vegas is internationally renowned for its entertainment, resorts and for being a holiday destination. An NBA team in Vegas would gain not only attract national attention. An international audience from around the world will see the lures of Vegas.
The global brand appeal for a team is something that the league and potential owners can’t overlook and no doubt would benefit the team from a merchandising perspective.
What are you naming this Las Vegas NBA team? 👀 pic.twitter.com/OiRexC3nLf
— Fanatics (@Fanatics) July 20, 2023
7. Economic Benefits
Both directly and indirectly, Las Vegas and the NBA would benefit immensely from a team in the city. In an already flourishing economy, Vegas offers a popular destination for a franchise to grow with the exposure the city already gets.
Once a team arrives, the indirect benefits are huge on businesses like restaurants, bars and the sports betting industry especially on game day with both home supporters and a large influx of away fans.
6. Star Power
Whenever a superstar plays for a city there are always flow-on effects. Think LeBron James in Cleveland for example. LeBron is interested in owning a franchise in Vegas and attracting a player of his calibre to play in a market saturated with the exposure that Las Vegas gets won’t be difficult.
5. New Rivalries
An NBA team in Las Vegas would open up opportunities for new rivalries and the team you’d expect would be slotted into the Western Conference. Hype would be generated in games between neighbouring cities such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City and especially Los Angeles. A game between the glitz and glamor of the LA Lakers and a Vegas team could be one of the biggest NBA rivalries.
4. Social and Community Impact
A boost in outreach programs for groups such as young children and teenagers would no doubt be fostered by a Las Vegas NBA team, helping to bridge inequalities for locals. The Orlando Magic Youth Basketball Academy programs are an excellent example of what’s on offer a clinic called “Her Time to Play” for young women interested in basketball is the sorts of things you’d expect for the community.
3. Infrastructure Boost
Vegas is no stranger to state-of-the-art sports facilities and The Sphere at the Venetian Resort looked spectacular during the NBA Summer League. Allegiant Stadium cost almost $2 billion and T-Mobile Arena had a cost of $375 million. With the amount of investment that goes in on Vegas, you’d think the team would host the best arena in the league.
The NBA eventually adding an expansion franchise in Las Vegas is “more real than ever,” per @sam_amick (https://t.co/tZwbJVNFVK).
It now seems more like a matter of when, not if, when discussing a future team in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/btTRvF9lIg
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 13, 2023
2. Commercial Success
The house always wins, and Vegas is the house. An NBA team is almost a certainty to being commercially viable which is why the NFL and NHL have made moves into the city, and the MLB and NBA all expected to follow suit.
The fact Vegas is a major entertainment hub would help the franchise substantially in terms of franchise value, and the negotiating power for the NBA and its brand value would only trend up. Businesses and brands from across the globe would look to tap into that exposure and secure lucrative sponsorship and advertising partnerships.
1. The Fans
Las Vegas has already created a reputation of supporting its sports teams passionately and you wouldn’t expect anything less from a city renowned for being the entertainment capital of the world.
What’s really enticing about a team in Vegas is that it would attract a large amount of away supporters, and that’s good for both the city of Las Vegas and the NBA. The only question that really remains is, does Las Vegas deserve a team more than a return of the Seattle Supersonics?